Russia Plans To Build 'At Least Six' Nuclear Units In India

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Kremlin in Moscow on December 24.

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Russia Plans To Build 'At Least Six' Nuclear Units In India

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Russia plans to build at least six new nuclear power units in India in the next 20 years, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.

Putin made the announcement after talks with visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 24.

Putin also said that Moscow and New Delhi would cooperate on designing a next-generation fighter jet and a transport plane.

Putin hailed the countries' "privileged strategic partnership," including their close economic and diplomatic collaboration, according to a Kremlin transcript.

"I see in Russia a prominent partner in India's economic transformation," Modi said after the talks.

Modi arrived in Moscow on the evening of December 23, when he had a private dinner with Putin.

Speaking at the start of the talks in the Kremlin, Modi called Russia a "reliable friend" who has "always stood by us."

Russia and India have shared close ties since the Cold War and are now partners in the BRICS group of emerging-market countries.

According to Konstantin Makiyenko of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, which advises Russia's Defense Ministry, some $7 billion worth of deals were expected to be agreed during Modi's visit.